Recent reading

[luzula]

I have been to a forest surveying camp in northern Sweden for five days, where we survey threatened forests that, from satellite data, look like they might be valuable old-growth forests, and then work to save them. Unfortunately my back has been weird for one and a half weeks--I can't bend over at all, and am in some pain. This made it a bit difficult to do things like look underneath dead trees for rare wood fungi, but I could direct less experienced people to the places where they should search, and teach them new species.

Anyway, I tried to take it as easy as possible, and I did read that one is not supposed to lie abed for back pain. I'll be going to a physical therapist tomorrow though.

The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby (1924)
This is one of regshoe's ebooks for Project Gutenberg, which I have proof-read. Of course I know the ebook was not made for me personally, but I still like the feeling of getting a brand-new, hand-crafted ebook which is regshoe's labour of love and picked because she especially likes the book! Anyway, this is about Muriel, who grows up in the early 20th century. Her mother is from an old upper-class family but married a rich and lower-class man. She is constantly doing social maneuvering in order to improve their position, and is very invested in her daughters making good marriages. Muriel is shy and a little socially awkward and does not bloom in this environment, to say the least. To be honest I found these parts of the book, which is most of it, a little oppressive to read! It's just described in such relentlessly observed detail, and Muriel internalizes so much of herself as someone who is hopelessly left over and destined to be an old maid unwanted by anyone...but the ending when it comes is beautiful and fitting, and such a relief. And when you look at them in retrospect, the titles of the book parts are perfect.

Comments

[regshoe]

Oh dear, I'm sorry about your back—how frustrating not to be able to look for rare fungi :( I hope the physical therapist can help. The forest camp sounds very cool, however—did you find any especially exciting/important species?

Of course I know the ebook was not made for me personally, but I still like the feeling of getting a brand-new, hand-crafted ebook which is regshoe's labour of love and picked because she especially likes the book!

Awww! I'm glad :D

Yes, oppressive, relentlessly observed detail is about the size of it for much of this book—Holtby knows what she's setting out to do and she does it very well, but it's not the most pleasant thing to read in so much detail. But good that you liked the ending—and very true about the section titles!

[chestnut_pod]

Oh dear, best wishes for your back -- I very much hope the physio is able to help. Those rare fungi need looking-at!

Of course I know the ebook was not made for me personally, but I still like the feeling of getting a brand-new, hand-crafted ebook which is [personal profile] regshoe's labour of love and picked because she especially likes the book!

This is very sweet :)

[feroxargentea]

Making a note of the book, as I enjoyed South Riding.

I hope your back improves. If it's musculoskeletal, def better to keep moving gently if you can bear to.

[scintilla10]

I'm sorry about your back! I know from experience how limiting it can be to have back pain. I hope the physical therapy helps get you on a swift path to recovery!

I'm interested in The Crowded Street, thanks to regshoe's post. Thanks for sharing your review!

[seascribble]

Back pain bad. But yes, you are supposed to limit sitting and lying down when you have it. I hope physio helps!

[lyr]

I hope the physical therapist can fix it!

[china_shop]

Hope your back gets better soon!

[luzula]

The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active. I didn't find any especially exciting species myself, but there were some cool finds, including a wood fungus with only about 20 previous observations in Sweden!

Hmm, there seems to be no fic for The Crowded Street. I would read Muriel/Delia fic, or Muriel/OFC fic. Or I would also read the trainwreck of an AU where Muriel marries Godfrey after Scarborough and then Clare breezes by for a visit and seduces them both separately... *g*

[luzula]

Thanks! The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

I always look forward to whatever ebooks regshoe produces. : )

[luzula]

I think you'll definitely enjoy the ending, at least. : )

Thanks! The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

[luzula]

Thanks! The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

I hope you enjoy the book, if you get around to reading it!

[luzula]

Thanks! The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

[luzula]

Thanks! He couldn't fix it, but said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

[luzula]

Thanks! The physical therapist said that it is not serious and should get slowly better over the following weeks, and that I should be moderately active.

[lyr]

That IS good news. I'm glad to hear you're going to be okay.

[regshoe]

Oh, good—I hope it does get better soon <3

I kind of feel like I ought to ship Muriel/Delia more than I actually do—perhaps it feels too imbalanced? I would like to see what could be done with it in fic, however, and would certainly be up for Muriel/OFC. As for that AU—excellent idea, but I think 'trainwreck' is right... :D

[luzula]

I definitely don't ship Muriel/Clare, however much Muriel crushes on her--that's just a recipe for Muriel getting hurt. But I could buy Muriel/Delia, if it happened after Muriel found her feet in the city and grew more independent.

[nnozomi]

Oh dear, I hope your back is getting better. Why are bodies so inefficiently designed? Like AO3, we're in permanent beta...

Fascinating description of The Crowded Street. I mostly know Winifred Holtby from Vera Brittain's biography of her, Testament of Friendship, which though it has its detractors is still a great read. Holtby in general seems to have been a sensational person as well as writer (the woman who wrote her obituary ended it with "People will say I am describing a saint. I am.").

[luzula]

Thanks! It's slowly getting better.

I do mean to read South Riding at some point, it sounds like a fascinating book.